Explosion In Midtown Manhattan

Foxnews.com ^ | Dec. 17, 2007

[tracer]

“Hydrogen molecules” should have been written by me as “hydrogen atoms.” D-OH!!

[michigander]

Chemical condition prompts evacuations in Midtown

Monday, December 17, 2007

Several floors of a midtown Manhattan office building had to be evacuated Monday morning because of a chemical condition.

It happened on the 45th floor of 1211 Avenue of the Americas. Authorities say some 30 gallons of a potentially hazardous chemical are now being examined by emergency officials on the scene.

Scores of people from the 43rd, 44th and 45th floors were evacuated from the high-rise, part of the Rockefeller Center complex, as a precaution. As of noon, there was word of just one minor injury.

The building houses the Fox News Channel and other News Corp. properties, such as the New York Post. Those offices are on lower floors of the building.

[ryan71]

“Want a side bet on how many corrections you get? I’m going with 8...”

I’ll see your 8 and raise you 2.

[Retired Chemist]

It’s why you are told not to mix houshold chemicals.

[waimea.man]

It would have to be H3O+ (Hydronium - most acidic species that can exist in water).

[aft_lizard]

Umm take intro to chemistry H₃O⁺ is what you get your pH from. I don't know how best to describe it to you but it is one of the first things I learned in chemistry.

[Ditter]

My mother told me to never mix ammonia and bleach, deadly fumes I think.

[hydrotech1]

This sounds like it occurred at the chemical feed station for the Cooling Tower on the roof, since it was on the 45th floor.

In NY, most common biocides are Sodium Hypochlorite and if fed in a common line with other cooling water chemicals, a reaction occurs, especially in low flow situations.

A similar reaction happened in Boston a couple of years ago, resulting in the Cooling Tower burning down. Sodium Hypochlorite was the cause.

[april15Bendovr]

Fox on right now talking about it.

[cajungirl]

I thought of my Mother on reading this thread,,she used to tell me to never mix any cleaning agents. Amazing,,Momma’s wisdom!

[Ciexyz]

Thanks for posting news story.

[tracer]

Same here — covered over by too many courses in biochem and ensuing years. Thanks for the reminder....

[Rick.Donaldson]

I’d say 10. :) lol

[waimea.man]

Dr. Jan Itor

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Had I heeded my mother's advice on snowball fights, I'd be able to read your post with both eyes.

Excuse me - an office mate needs my scissors - I need to run them over....

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"The mathematical definition of pH is a bit less intuitive, but with a calculator in hand, more useful. It says that the pH is equal to to the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration, or pH = -log [H+]."

"Using the Brønsted-Lowry approach that would be pH = -log [H3O+]."

I must have been doing tissue culture (= using buffered media) for many years while "in the dark." Too many moons ago, but with good results. But my current level of memory seems to be declining in a logarithmic manner. Groan....

[RSmithOpt]

Not really....Off the shelf h3o and fingernail polish remover can do it.

[alloysteel]

I blame the Democratic National Committee and the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy.

With about as much logic as was applied to the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995.

Of course the DNC did not rally their forces for this. They are WAY too chicken to organize any similar assault.

But the real perpetrators were greatly encouraged by the spineless actions of the VLWC, and in a fit of political correctness, there will be no outcry for the pursuit and prosecution of these radicals. After all, it was only Fox News and the New York Post that was involved, and just EVERYBODY “knows” they deserved the assault.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

H30 is an oxidizer (Hydrogen peroxide)

H₂O₂, been a while since general chemistry?

Regards,
GtG

[Dan(9698)]

‘an oxidizer’ and ‘an acid’.

The Nike Ajax antiaircraft missile used Red Fuming Nitric Acid as an oxidizer. The other fuel was jet fuel.

When they got together, there was really hot fire.